Anaheim, CA – OSHA’s final rule on walking/working surfaces to address slips, trips and falls in the workplace soon could be a reality, agency administrator David Michaels said Tuesday during a roundtable discussion at the 2016 NSC Congress & Expo.

Despite slip and fall accidents accounting for 15 percent of all accidental deaths in the United States, second only to motor vehicle accidents, there is a growing yet dangerous trend to eliminate the most critical measurement to prevent slips on hard-walkway surfaces.

Washington – State-run OSHA programs face staffing challenges in part because of budget cuts, and federal OSHA should provide better access to training and deadlines for taking over troubled state programs, concludes a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Washington – It is unclear whether the Environmental Protection Agency’s approach to managing toxic chemicals will be successful in ensuring safety, an official from the Government Accountability Office recently told legislators.

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s updated hours-of-service regulations would prevent an estimated 1,400 crashes, 560 injuries and 19 fatalities each year, according to agency Administrator Anne S. Ferro.

Washington – Robust federal enforcement and an update of EPA rules are key to preventing similar incidents, according to testimony given at a June 27 Senate hearing.

Washington – Legislation introduced June 26 by Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-CA) aims to improve safety in the motorcoach industry.

Washington – The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission intends to reduce the average length of time it takes to resolve cases as part of its new five-year strategic plan.

Washington – A federal transportation safety advisory committee and a medical review board are scheduled to host a joint public meeting Sept. 9-10 in Alexandria, VA, to discuss several ongoing transportation safety topics.

Washington – Nearly 30 percent of employers that rank among the top violators of federal wage and safety laws receive federal contracts, according to a report issued Dec. 11 by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee after a yearlong investigation.

Washington – The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has approved Heather MacDougall as the third and final member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Washington – The Senate on March 12 confirmed Heather MacDougall as the third Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission member.

Washington – A new online form and email address have been created to process Freedom of Information Act requests sent to the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Washington – President Barack Obama has designated Patrick Nakamura as acting chairman of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

Washington – Health and safety standards could be weakened in certain cases because small businesses have been left out of the federal rulemaking process, according to a report from the Center for Effective Government.

Washington – Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Chairman Thomasina Rogers retired on April 27.

Washington – In what OSHA is calling a “precedent-setting” decision, a judge has determined that the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission may have the authority to order enterprise-wide abatements of hazards.

Washington – The acting chair of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has been designated and sworn in as the official chair, OSHRC announced in a Jan. 19 press release.

Washington – Heather MacDougall is the new chair of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, sworn in Aug. 16 after being appointed by President Donald Trump.

Washington – The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission is seeking comments on a draft of its 2018-2022 Strategic Plan.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has renewed the charter for the Medical Review Board, according to a notice published in the Dec. 7 Federal Register.

Washington — The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission is accepting comments until Oct. 9 on potential revisions to its procedural rules, in part to reflect technological advances, according to a notice published in the Sept. 7 Federal Register.

Washington — The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has extended to Nov. 16 the comment period on potential revisions to its procedural rules, in part to reflect technological advances.

Washington — The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has finalized what it calls “comprehensive” revisions to its procedural rules, in part to reflect technological advances.

Washington — James Sullivan Jr. is the new chair of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Washington — President Donald Trump on Oct. 9 announced he will nominate Amanda Wood Laihow for one of the two vacant seats on the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, which has been shorthanded – and lacking a quorum – for more than five months.

Washington — President Donald Trump on Oct. 17 re-nominated Cynthia Attwood for a third term on the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, another step toward filling all three commissioner seats.

Washington — The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission can resume its work after the Senate confirmed Cynthia Attwood and Amanda Wood Laihow by voice vote Jan. 9.

Washington — Citing risks presented by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has extended until July 10 a suspension of all in-person hearings, settlement judge conferences and mediations.

Washington — The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is accepting comment on a proposed rule that would amend and update agency rules for implementing the Freedom of Information Act of 1966.

Washington — A recent Supreme Court decision could affect how legal disputes with OSHA or the Mine Safety and Health Administration are settled.

Food allergies, whether mild or serious, are medical conditions that affect up to 15 million people in the United States, according to Food Allergy Research & Education, a nonprofit organization.

With the holiday season underway, people are feeling festive – including at work. But whether you’re decorating your cubicle or taking part in the office potluck, safety should always remain a top priority.

Whether you’re decorating a co-worker’s office to celebrate a birthday, stringing lights during the holidays or changing a lightbulb, stepladders are handy tools to have on hand at work. But just because stepladders seem simple to use doesn’t mean they’re risk-free.

Computer vision syndrome, also referred to as digital eyestrain, encompasses a group of vision-related problems that result from prolonged computer, tablet, e-reader and smartphone use, according to the American Optometric Association.

For millions of workers, riding in an elevator is an everyday occurrence.

Is your shared office refrigerator filled with mystery items, funky smells and 5-month-old yogurt? It’s time to take action.

Briarcliff Manor, NY — You’re at home with family in the evening when you receive an email notification. It’s from your boss. Do you respond? A new study finds that pressure to check work email from home can negatively affect your health, your relationship with your significant other, and his or her health.

London — Workers who experience depression may be less prone to miss work when managers show greater sensitivity to their mental health and well-being, recent research from the London School of Economics and Political Science shows.

Washington — A few days away from the office may help clear your head and leave you feeling more positive about work. But how long does that positivity last once you return? Not long at all, say about two-thirds of respondents to a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.

Boston — Bagels and donuts during the breakfast meeting. Cake for birthday celebrations. Consuming extra food is a common occurrence for many workers. But before you grab that free donut, know this: Workplace snacks may be adding more than 1,000 calories to your daily diet.

Menomonee Falls, WI — It’s common knowledge that handwashing helps prevent the spread of germs in the workplace. But are people taking that message to heart? Not everyone, according to the results of a recent survey.

Winter is coming, or so whispers that chill of cold air making its way through your office. To keep warm, you may be considering using a portable space heater at your desk.

Before you plug it in, know that portable electric space heaters can present a “major workplace safety hazard,” according to Electrical Safety Foundation International.

Is your office prepared to deal with workplace violence? If you’re unsure or think it’s unlikely to occur, consider this: “Some 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year,” states OSHA, which adds that “workplace violence can strike anywhere, and no one is immune.”

Does your office pass the “civility test”? Workplaces that are civil and respectful have employees who are caring, considerate and courteous in their interactions with co-workers, clients and the public, notes the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety.

From air fresheners, soaps and lotions to cleaning products, perfumes, colognes and deodorants, scents are often in the air at work.

Do you travel for work – even if it’s just once a year for a safety conference? “As with other aspects of safety, being prepared and aware of potential risks are the key to a safe trip in your home country or elsewhere in the world,” the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety says.

Does your workplace lack a safety and health program? If you’re looking to create one, OSHA offers 10 tips to get you going.

As reports of the current outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) dominate the headlines, keeping calm can prove difficult. However, one of the best ways to combat anxiety – and be prepared – is to be informed.

Seventy-five percent of respondents to Safety+Health's 2014 Job Outlook survey said environmental, health and safety was not their first career choice. Why aren't more students aware that EHS is a career option? Also: Veteran EHS pros talk about how they got their start.